I know: more gingerbread. But I had to share here a post I wrote over on Honest Cooking. After all, is there such a thing as too much gingerbread? No, I didn’t think so.
I always think there’s something sumptuous about the idea of spices. Hundreds of years ago, when spices were rare enough to be plied as currency, preparing food laced with a cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves must have been more than merely welcoming–it was a statement. Today, of course, spices are no longer such a precious specie–cinnamon is an everyday flavor, nutmeg almost as much, and cloves we even use for decoration. Still, somehow that legacy of luxury seems to linger, and I think that must be why I always feel a bit profligate when I add spoonfuls of these potent powders to a batter or dough.
Funnily enough, though, the end product is more about comfort than extravagance. Take gingerbread–laden with spices, but what is more homey? To these gingerbread muffins, I’ve added chunks of juicy pear, a fruit that begs to be combined with these warm flavors. It’s cozy feet in slippers in the middle of winter, but I could eat it any time of year.
- 2c (9.2 ounces or 260 g) all purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
- pinch of mace (optional)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 6 tablespoons (3 ounces/85g) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- ¼ c dark brown sugar (1.4 ounces/40g)
- 1 large egg
- ½ c (120mL) light molasses
- 1 c (240mL) cold water
- One Bosc (or other baking) pear, diced.
- Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Line, or lightly butter 12 standard (1/3-cup/80mL) muffin cups.
- Whisk flour, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, mace if using and salt in medium bowl to blend. In a second larger bowl, mix together the melted butter, sugar, molasses, and eggs. Stir in the cold water. Add half of the dry ingredients and stir until blended. Stir in the remaining dry ingredients. Fold in the diced pears.
- Bake gingerbread until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 22-25 minutes (check after 20 minutes).
- Set on a rack to cool for 10 minutes. Remove the muffins from the muffin tin and allow to cool completely on the rack.
All the spices must have brought out the wonderful flavors of the pears. A nice combination.
definitely–pears take to spices so nicely!
Right now, I’m imagining slicing one of these muffins in half, and putting them, stomach down, on a griddle, and then maybe, just maybe, slathering some cream cheese on top for a creamy, tangy, melty, contrast.
In a History of Food class I once took, I learned that the wealthy oftentimes held these ridiculous, out-of-control feasts and to show off their wealth, smothered their foods in spices. Some of the recipes exist from that time period, and if you saw them you’s say, ugh, that’s WAY too much cinnamon. Kind of like that yogurt recipe from last week…
Oh yes…that does sound good. I think a lot of holiday recipes must be some sort of holdover from that–they tend to have a lot more spices going on than your average recipe. I think I got the balance right here, let me know!
Mmm, pretty! I love how evenly that slice. Mine would’ve been crumbly, because I wouldn’t have waited long enough for it to cool down.
Reblogged this on the Live Better blog and commented:
Just a little tasty something (since I have a public health paper due and no time to blog this week – sorry!)
I love gingerbread and pears together. And I don’t like that most gingerbread recipes disappear right after Christmas. Its still winter and I still want gingerbread.
Definitely! Gingerbread, it’s not just for the holidays. As I mentioned, I wrote up a cake a few posts back if you need another fix.
Your muffins look moist and divine – I agree, no such thing as too much gingerbread!
I’ve never seen a muffin recipe with water, instead of some form of dairy. Did you do this for health reasons, or does it have a specific effect on the batter? Curious!
just lovely, but what is “flavored” light molasses?
Hmmm, I think I meant to say light-flavored molasses but I think even that is a non-standard term so I just fixed it to say light molasses. Thanks for pointing that out!
Just made these – they are great! Not sweet at all, which I love. Very deliciously gingerbready. I actually subbed half whole grain spelt flour and half white spelt flour and they still came out perfectly.
I also made Emeril’s Gingered Pear Preserves recipe (had a LOT of pears!) alongside these – it tastes amazing on these muffins as well.
Kate, thanks so much for you comment. I’m happy they turned out, and I love the substitution of spelt flour! You remind me I need to pick up some more myself!